Our family’s go-to baked beans recipe for decades – Anastasia’s Best Ever Baked Beans – can be made in the oven or slow cooker. These are a must-have at barbecues and get-togethers. This shortcut recipe is easy to make and darn good. Rave reviews!
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The Best Versatile Baked Beans Recipe for the Oven or Crock Pot
My sister Anastasia’s famous baked beans recipe is an easy-to-make, go-to favorite side dish. Made with canned pork and beans, sautéed onions, molasses, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, and bacon, it’s a big ol’ dish of comfort! The perfect side for so many meals, holidays, potlucks, picnics, and barbecues. Simple to make, so good, and sure to become a new favorite.
This favorite family recipe has so many rave reviews and even won best baked beans at a festival!
My friend, Marsha, from The Better Baker, even won PEOPLE’S CHOICE at her local Beans Day festival with my sister’s recipe!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE THIS FAVORITE BBQ SIDE DISH (full recipe below in the recipe card)
- canned pork and beans – I like VanCamps’s canned Pork and Beans (this is not a paid link), but you can use your favorite similar brand
- onion (yellow)
- butter
- ketchup
- molasses, unsulphured
- yellow mustard
- brown sugar
- bacon
How to make the best baked beans in the oven
Preheat oven to 325 degrees f. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
Sauté onions over medium to medium-high heat in butter until onions are tender and translucent.
Mix beans, ketchup, mustard, molasses and brown sugar…
Next, add the sautéd onions and mix well and pour in prepared baking dish.
Top with uncooked bacon in single layer.
Bake on middle rack of oven uncovered for 2–3 hours.
Beans are ready when the top is dark and caramelized. Serve warm. Enjoy!
How To Make Baked Beans in the Slow Cooker
These can also be thrown together and cooked in the slow cooker set on low for 6 to 8 hours. You won’t get that nice caramelized top, but they will still be delicious. Mix everything the same way as the oven method, including sautéing the onions. However, you will need to pre-cook the bacon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prep time for the baked beans is about 20 mins. They are baked low and slow fin the oven for 2–3 hours, until the bacon is dark and caramelized.
The oven is best. The oven allows the bacon to caramelize. So good.
We use VanCamp’s, but others have used different brands and love the results.
Yes! You can prepare everything the night before, then pop them in the oven the next day.
For this recipe, use unsulphured molasses. 
Store leftover baked beans in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. You can reheat the baked beans in the microwave, stove or oven.
Want More Great Side Dishes for your next get-together?
PLEASE NOTE: This is not a paid sponsored post. I have no affiliation with any of the products shared or linked in this recipe. The original recipe post date was April 3, 2016. This post was updated, May 1, 2024.
Best Ever Baked Beans (Anastasia’s Recipe)
Ingredients
- 5 cans pork and beans (15 ounce cans) VanCamps’s Pork and Beans or similar
- 1 large yellow or sweet onion, chopped (or 2 medium size onions)
- 1 – 2 Tablespoons butter (for sautéing onions)
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 3 Tablespoons yellow mustard
- ½ cup molasses, unsulphured
- ¼ – ½ cup brown sugar (use less for less sweetness)
- 6-8 slices uncooked bacon (each slice cut in half or thirds)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees f. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Sauté onions over medium to medium-high heat in butter until onions are tender and translucent.
- Mix beans, ketchup, mustard, molasses and brown sugar.
- Add the sautéd onions and mix well and pour in prepared baking dish.
- Top with uncooked bacon in single layer. Bake on middle rack of oven uncovered for 2–3 hours. Beans are ready when the top is dark and caramelized.
Notes
These can also be thrown together and cooked in the slow cooker set on low for 6 to 8 hours. You won’t get that nice caramelized top, but they will still be delicious. Mix everything the same way as the oven method, including sautéing the onions. However, you will need to pre-cook the bacon. Please Note: Oven method is the best!
Karen
I love this recipe because this is The way I make mine except I don’t use VanCamp‘s beans I use bushes baked beans and I’ve never put bacon on top but I should it looks great and I use a full jar of molasses they are de-lish-ous!!!!!! Delicious !!!!!
LARRY
HELLO, IT SEEMS THAT EVERY TIME I MAKE BAKED BEANS ,, NOT THIS RECIPE,, THE BEANS BECOME HARD IN THE CENTER,, USUALLY I USE BUSH’S BEANS, AND COOK AT 350 DEGREES,,, ANY IDEAS ?? THANK YOU
Karyn
I didn’t see how many people this recipe serves. How many?
Michele
This is the first time I ever made baked beans! They came out perfect and delicious! I used Campbell baked beans. My friends couldn’t get enough of them.
Katelynn
I’m wondering if these can be made in a smoker? Also wondering if I can make ahead and warm up? How many days ahead would you recommend?
Thank you!
Roxie
I commented earlier on whether the beans should be drained a bit. Well, I’m thinking no now. I made these and they looked so soupy that I drained about 75% of the liquid off and after 2 1/2 cooking hours, plus just leaving them set in the oven after turning it off, they are on the dry side! Bummer
Mary Neumann
I am just seeing your comment now, Roxie – bummer. You don’t drain the beans, the liquid reduces while in the oven.
Roxie
Are you suppose to drain the beans or no? They seem to have a lot of juice? I did drain them somewhat and hope I didn’t mess them up. They are in the oven.
sharyn
these are the very best beans ever. I have been making this beans forever. Since the late 1970’s. I just differ a little by adding 1 tablespoon of vinegar and adding 1 pound of hamburger., and an extra can of kidney beans and a can of white beans. I leave out of molasses,. It becomes to sweet for me. If I am in a sweet mood, I just add more brown sugar. Everyone should try this recipe, everyone will think you slaved all day making the baked beans from scratch.
M ike
So you cook a different recipe then.
Michelle
Mike–I totally agree! Why comment on the recipe and say “these are the very best beans ever” and continue with 5 different changes you made. People are so weird…
Lesley
I have always made my baked beans this way except I use maple syrup instead of molasses.
Birdie Girl
You were so right! I just took this to a 4th of July party yesterday and came home with an empty pan! Tastes amazing! I did not want to waste the package of bacon, so I put it in the over on a rimmed baking sheet and let it cook along with the beans until done. When I was ready to serve the beans, I crumbled the cooked bacon over top. Don’t think we can have too much bacon?!
Kathi
Wow – I made these but I used your recipe for Boston Baked Beans. I have always hated Van Kamps – Yick!! But what a difference these beans make. I made them for tomorrow – 4th of July. Thank you so much for posting the from scratch recipe.
D G
I’ve been making this recipe for 45 years without the molasses. It always has been a hit.
Joanna
This is recipe is the best. I added a lb of crumbled cooked bacon stirred in. Many raves from guests. Thank you.
Pam
Love it. Thanks for sharing
Yvonne
I made this recipe and followed the recipe to a T. After 3 hours in the oven the beans still have a lot of liquid in them. Should the beans be drained first?
Cyndi
I would also like to know if I should drain the beans? I cannot find VanCamps beans in my area – what would you suggest? One more question – can this be cut in half? Thank you!
Mary Neumann
You can cut this recipe in half, Cyndi. If there is a lot of liquid in your beans, you can drain some, but it should be gone during baking.
Jodi
Vidalias are sweet onions…they’re just named for the place they’re grown in.
Cris
BEST EVER baked beans. These were absolutely delicious. Thank you so much for sharing. Will be my BB recipe forever.
CC
I’ve used this recipe for years-so good! I’ve made for Bbq’s, church potlucks, friends’ meals, etc. and they are always a huge hit. Thanks for reminding me about this recipe!
Donna Huskey
This is basicallyhow I make mine, minus cooking the onions and using dark brown sugar I stead of molasses and light brown sugar. I also add chopped green pepper. They are really good and I get asked for my recipe all the time as well.
Cathy
I’m making these but can I put in butter beans and red kidney beans? Should I add more sugar and other ingredients?
Tina
I agree with Michelle.
Stephanie, One Caring Mom
These are amazing! My sister made these for a get together yesterday and everyone devoured them. My son ate 3 helpings and wanted more (but they were gone).
Lisa Young
do you know how many this recipe serves? Thanks!
Stephanie
She doubled the recipe and it fed maybe 20-30 people. It was so long ago that I don’t honestly remember, but I know we ran out of them before everything else because they were that good!!
Katy
These are the best beans ever!! The whole family loved them and asked for them again.
Katrina
These beans are amazing! I started making these a year or two ago and now they are made every time we have a cookout, the whole family loves them! My sister started making them and my mom is making them for church potlucks. Won’t use any other recipe, Thank You!
Karen W
Confused-sweet onion is the same as Vidalia?
Erica
I was to make these for a family picnic that will have approximately 40 guests. How many people would you say this recipe feeds? Trying to figure out how many cans of beans I’d need to get in order to make enough of this.thanks!
Paula Bowersox
Can I make the day ahead and heat in slow cooker?